This thing called love…..

My family were pretty British.

Both my parents came from families where their parents were remote and, without going into too much detail, I’m certain they didn’t have people telling them they loved them. As a child growing up I knew my family loved me, but I don’t remember us saying the words being particularly effusive about it.

Years later, I met my future husband and fell madly, deeply in love, being half of a whole was the real thing!

Many years later, our children came along. When our son was born I couldn’t imagine ever being able to love anyone else this deeply. In fact during my second pregnancy, I had a genuine concern about whether it was possible to love one’s second child as much as one’s first.

I discovered that the capacity for love expands and my emotions for our daughter were as intense as they had been for our son. I remember feeling like the luckiest person in the world when our children were small, largely because of this huge bubble of love that surrounded the four of us. I couldn’t imagine ever being able to let them go.

Some years later, I joined a women’s group called Damsels in Success and found it slightly strange that our group leader often expressed her love for us. I saw this group of tight knit women occasionally saying “I love you” to one another.

Frankly I thought it was weird! I loved my immediate family and my mum and dad but it didn’t go much further than that.

Over time I got to know some of these women really well. They accepted me just as I was. They celebrated my successes and held me when I was suffering or feeling inadequate.

Gradually, over time, I began to allow myself to feel the words they said. I began to realise that I cared deeply for many of them as individuals and all of them as a group. As I allowed my feelings to thaw, I discovered that I loved them too.

I started to try these feelings on for size. I met up with an old friend, and there was no doubt in my mind that I loved her. The more I explored, the more I discovered how deeply I loved and cared for many people.

Fresh Air Fridays is another community where we are accepted, just as we are.

We spend time in nature and connect with one another, the love grows for those who allow it to.

What an amazing expansive feeling my bubble has now expanded, it is so much bigger! My advice, don’t save your love for just a few because the more you give the more you get.

If you’d like to give Fresh Air Fridays a try, take a look at the sessions we’re running. Come and join us – your first session is always free!